State and local police were searching the area of Tri-Cities Crossing on Monday morning after a motorist fled their crashed vehicle on Interstate 81.

According to preliminary information from Tennessee Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Sgt. Bill Miller, the crash was a single-vehicle incident near mile-marker 56. The driver then ran from the scene, possibly to a nearby construction site where he may have received a ride.

Both the Kingsport Police Department and Sullivan County Sheriff's Office assisted in the subsequent search, which was called off before noon with the suspect still not located. A helicopter was also in the air, with police efforts focused on the area around the interchange of Interstates 81 and 26.

As of Monday afternoon an investigation was continuing with no additional information immediately available.